Robert S. Jackman’s Log Book

Transcribed by Dan  Jackman

After Training finished, Left for Hamilton Field California, & then to P.O.E. at camp Patrick
Henry, Virginia. Left on Liberty ship Francis L. Lee on Sept. 11 1944, for 28 days at sea, Pulled into Bari 22nd Replacement Center on Oct. 7 1944. Sent from there to 376th bomb group – 514th
Bomb squadron for combat.

10/20/44 – Practice Mission, B 24 (H) #66, 3 hours  turned back due to Weather

10/23/44 – Brenner Pass, B 24 (H) #66, 6 hours 45 minutes  Target was Railroad- visibility
Was poor due to clouds, Secondary target was Bridge but bombs fell into Adriatic Sea
Flack reported but inaccurate.

10/24/44 –Practice Mission, B24 (H) #62 ( Constant Menace ) 2 hours 15 minutes

10/28/44 -  Practice Mission, B24 (J) #73 ( Miss O’Lanius ) # 3 hours

10/29/44 – Munich Marshalling Yards, B24 (J) #73 ( Miss O’Lanius ) 7 hours 30 minutes
Flew at 26,400 feet Temp. -30 degrees, Flack is right height but to the right.
ME-109s seen, Escorts p-38s and P-51s

11/1/44 – Didn’t fly but #73 blew up at end of runway, Nose wheel collapsed , Entire
Crew killed Bomb load exploded

11/5/44 – Vienna oil refinery, B24 (G) #69 ( Gin ) 7 hours 30 minutes Flew at 25,300 feet,
Temp. -35 degrees, Flack medium to heavy mostly over or in front of us but still fairly
Accurate. Undercast over target

11/9/44 – Brenner Pass, B24 (H) ( unsure of plane # ) Flew at 16,500 feet Temp. – 16 degrees
Flack light and to the right of box. Visibility Scattered, target seen

11/10/44 Didn’t fly but #72 cracked up at end of runway when Control gave order for downwind landing, Brakes gave out. No one hurt.

11/12/44 – Ferried B24 (H) #60 ( Night Hawk ) to Gioia and returned by truck

11/16/44 -  Munich Marshalling Yards, B24 (H) ( Boomerang ) & hours 40 minutes Flew at
24,00 feet, Temp. -44 degrees. Flack heavy but inaccurate, Undercast at target

11/17/44 – Local, B24 (J) ( Mickeyship ) 3 hours 10 minutes, Fuel Consumption 26,000 feet
( I’m unsure what this means).

11/19/44 – Vienna Schwechat Oil Refinery, B24 (J) #69 ( Gin ) 7 hours Flew at 24,000 feet
Temp. -28 degrees Flack heavy but inaccurate, 9/10 Undercast over Target


11/21/44 – Adriatic, B24 (J) #69 ( Gin ) 3 hours 5 minutes, Turned back by Bad Weather


11/22/44 – Verona Italy, B24 (J) ( Gin ) 6 hours 55 minutes, Target is a Bridge Flack was intense
And accurate, Bombs missed target. Flew at 23,000 feet. Lead ship in Lead box gave away altitude over command. Several Ships turned back, One Ship blewup and fell into lake. Fighters attacked
Stragglers.

11/25/44 – Practice, B24 (J) #74 2 hours 40 minutes, Practice Bombing

11/26/44 – Practice, B24 (J) #74 3 hours 25 minutes, Practice Formation and touch & go

11/29/44 – Practice, B24 (J) #74 2 hours 50 minutes, Practice Bombing

11/30/44 – Practice, B24 (J) #63 2 hours 15 minutes, Practice Formation

12/2/44 – Florisdorf Oil Refinery, B24 (H) #67 ( Boomerang ) 7 hours 15 minutes, Flew at
25,400 feet Temp. -30 degrees, 10/10 Undercast, Flack moderate and inaccurate, Saw P-51s
And British Fighters

12/4/44 – Practice, B24 (J) #74 3 hours 30 minutes, Practice Gunnery and Formation

12/6/44 – Szombathely Hungary, B24 (J) #69 ( Gin ) 6 hours 30 minutes, Flew at 24,700 feet
Temp. -42 degrees. No Bombs dropped due to 10/10 Undercast. Flack was Accurate at Maribor
( Yugo ) 1 ship lost ( lt. Hicks ) hit hard with flack at 16.000 feet

12/9/44 – Adriatic, B24 (J) #71 ( BluestreakII ) 4 hours, Turned back by Weather

12/15/44 – Innsbruck Marshalling Yards, B24 (J) #70, 7 hours 10 minutes, Flew at 21,500 feet
Temp. -25 degrees, Flack intense and accurate, Lead ship ( Kremmer Bros. ) went down. We
Took over lead and bought Squad back to field. # 4 Engine and Bomb bay hit.
P-51 and P-38s escorted

12/17/44 – Salzburg, B24 (J) #63 7 hours 15 minutes, Flew at 22,400 feet Temp. -36 degrees
Flack light and accurate, Target seen and hit, # 4 Engine ran away on I. P. ( fixed )

Note : # 60 lost, From October 15 to December 18 514th has lost 8 ships

12/21/44 – Rosenheim Germany, B24 (J) #71 ( BluestreakII ) 7 hours 20 minutes, Flew at 26,000
Feet, Temp -40 degrees, No Flack ( milkrun ) Flew with Lt. Pitts in to Turret

12/24/44 – Practice, B24 (H) # 62 ( Lucky Patches ) 3 hours 30 minutes,  Practice Formation
And Bombing

12/25/44 – Hall Marshalling Yards, B24 (J) #70 7 hours 25 minutes,Flew at 25,000 feet Temp. -42
Degrees, Bombs missed Target, Clear visibility Flack light and inaccurate. Fighter seen
Attacking B26 in Udine area. Carried Photographer and extra Gunner, Deputy lead for the.
Group. # 63 lost due to engine failure # 72 Crashed ( no injuries to crew )



12/27/44 – Bressanone Italy, B24 (J) #77 ( What Next ) 7 hours 40 minutes, Flew at 22,000
Feet, Temp. -30 degrees, Flack moderate and inaccurate, Flew lead ship, We were the only ship out of Squadron to reach the target. In Udine area Flack hit us Intense and very accurate,
#3 Feathered every part of ship hit, about 30 large holes. Roughest Mission so far. Made 360
Then 180 then 270 over target in order to find it. Missed Bridge but hit tracks alongside of it.

12/28/44 – Bressanone Italy, B24 (J) #70, 6 hours 40 minutes, Flew at 23,000 feet Temp. -39 degrees, Flew as Lead Ship Flack moderate and inaccurate. Hit target and Destroyed completely.
15th Sortie ( Oak leaf cluster to Air Medal )

Note : Squad went back mission and sortie basis for all those who have started their Combat
Tour before November 1st . This gives me 24 Missions – 15 Sorties

1/8/45 – Linz Austria, B24 (J) #62 ( Lucky Patches ) 7 hours 35 minutes, Flew at 26,700 feet
Temp. -51 degrees, 10/10 coverage over target, Flack heavy and accurate.

Note : From October 15 to January 1st  10 ships lost, All ships in Squad at the time we entered
Have been lost except for #67 ( Boomerang ) and # 65. New Replacement ships take same numbers

1/12/45 – Practice, B24 (J) #584 2 hours 25 minutes, Practice Formation

1/15/45 – Practice, B24 (J) #77 ( What Next ) 2 hours 25 minutes, Practice Instruments

Note : From January 19 to February 13 spent time at 26th General Hospital for Hepatitis.
5 more ships lost during this time.

2/15/45 – Vienna Austria, B24 (J) #813 ( Mickey Ship ) 6 hours 40 minutes, Flew at 26,000 feet
Temp. -31 degrees, Flew Lead, Flack moderate and accurate, 9/10 coverage. #65 lost

Note : From February 17 thru 25, Was Isle of Capri for rest camp with Lt. Sheeley’s Crew,
During this time Roy ( Smith ) was hit in face and received Purple Heart.

3/1/45 – Moosbierbaum Oil Refinery, B24 (G) #76, 7 hours 10 minutes,Flew at 27,500 feet
Temp -48 degrees, Flack 3000 feet below us hitting other boxes, Flack light over Maribor
Yugo. 10/10 Coverage. Flew with Lt. Reding

3/2/45 – Brescia Italy, B24 (L) ( Mickey ) 8 hours 10 minutes, Flew at 22,500 feet, Temp. -32 degrees. 7/10 Coverage, No Flack, Lead Ship

3/4/45 – Zagreb Yugoslavia, B24 (J) #77 ( What Next ) 6 hours, Flew at 23,000 feet, Temp. -42 degrees. 7/10 Coverage, Flack moderate and behind box. Wing lead. Flew with Lt. Robinson
As Waist Gunner

3/13/45 – Regensburg Germany, B24 (L) #986 ( Mickey ) 7 hours 5 minutes, Flew at 23,000 feet
Temp. -39 degrees, 9/10 coverage, No Flack, Lead Ship. The Greek finished up ( Chris Callas of
Kremer Crew )


3/16/45 – Wiener Neustadt, B24 (L) #60 ( One Shot Sam ) 7 hours 25 minutes, Flew at 23,500
Feet Temp – 35 degrees, Scant Flack, Missed target. Flew with Lt. Estell.
# 75 after take off accidentally dropped Bombs on Brendisi and killed 3 and wounded 60

3/18/45 - Practice, B24 (J) #69 2 hour 30 minutes, Lt. Robinson buzzed field

3/19/45 – Landshut Germany, B24 (L) # 986 ( Mickey ) Flew at 16,000 Feet Temp. -15 degrees
Good Visual, Hit target, Lead Ship. Krysa new bombardier. Just one bust of flack

3/21/45 – Neuburg Germany, B24 (L) #70 ,8 hours, Flew at 23,000 feet Temp -34 degrees,
Hit Target, Visual. Flew with Lt. Ehirenberg, Clyde (Sleigh) flew with LT. Robinson as co Pilot
And Barley made Zara Yugo. With two engines. JU-88s seen. P-51 fighter cover

3/23/45 – St. Valintin Austria, B24 (J) #765 ( Mickey ) 7 hours 30 minutes, Flew at 24,500 feet
Temp. _34 degrees, Hit Target. Visual. Flack Moderate and accurate, Got a few more holes

3/31/45 – Linz Austria, B24 (J) #75 ( Flamin Maniac ) 7 hours 20 minutes,Flew at 23,500 feet
Temp. -30 degrees, Flack intense and accurate, 8/10 Coverage. Flew with Lt. Hatem. Had closest call when flack burst next to my head about ½ inch away and threw glass all around, Knocked me to the floor. Two ships went down. Bombardier Killed. One ship downed at Zara. Enemy Fighters seen in Udine area. Hydraulic system shot out, Super chargers shot out. #3 and #4 engines lost
But repaired with 16 inch Manifold pressure. Fire in bombbay, Gear cranked down, Flaps Pumped down, Doors cranked open. No Brakes. Over 30 major Flack holes

4/2/45 – Leibnitz Austria, B24 (L) # 200 ( Mickey ) 6 hours 45 minutes, Flew at 18,000 feet
Temp. -14 degrees, Hit and Destroyed target. Visual. Milk run. Colonel George flew as Co Pilot
Group Lead. Germans on roads at Corez. Saw Russians bombing town not far from Zagreb (?)

4/6/45 – Practice, B24 (L) #986 ( Mickey ) 1 hour 30 minutes, Calibration

Note : January 1st till April 9th 7 ships lost

4/11/45 – Campodazzo Italy, B24 (J) # 765 ( Mickey ) 6 hours 50 minutes, Flew at 24,000 feet
Temp. -25 degrees, Flack at target was scant but accurate, Scotty ( Floyd Scott ) hit in ankle,
3 others are also hit, Did not drop bombs because Bombardier could not pick up target. Went to
Secondary ( Osstooppo ) Hit Target.

4/15/45 – Udine area Bridge, B24 (J) # 765 ( Mickey ) 7 hours 50 minutes, Flew at 21,000 feet
Temp. -20 degrees, Flack Moderate and inaccurate, 8/10 Coverage, Group flew last mission.
Group to go back to states except for 15 crews including ours. We have to many missions to go
Back. So new crews go back to the States with a few missions to their credit. We are to go north
And finish up.

4/17/45 – 454th Bomb group, B24 (E) 1 hour, Transferred to the 454th Bomb Group

4/21/45 – Northern Italy, B24 (J) #244 ( Miss Ginnie ) 4 hours 45 minutes, Turned back due to Weather

4/23/45 – Padua Italy R.R. Bridge, B24 (H) # 808 ( Club 400 ) 6 hours 20 minutes, Flew at
22,000 feet Temp.-30 degrees, Flack scant and inaccurate, Visual, Saw 8th Army shelling Jerries at the front lines.

4/24/45 – Bassono Italy, B23 (H) #808 ( Club 400 ) 7 hours 5 minutes, Flew at 23,500 feet
Temp. -32 degrees, Flack scant and inaccurate, 8/10 undercast.

4/26/45 – Gunnery Range, B24 (J) #575 2 hours 15 minutes, Gunnery Range, Adriatic.

Note : MAY 8TH 1945 WAR OVER

5/11/45 – Gunnery Range, B24 (L) #730  4 hoursGunnery Range, Toranto

5/24/45 – Milan, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) Practice 6 hours 25 minutes, Fuel Consumption and Navigation.

5/30/45 – Local, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 2 hours, Test Flight Local

6/12/45 – Gioia, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 1 hour, Start of flight back to U.S.A.

6/15/45 – Algiers Africa, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 6 hours 45 minutes, Forced down by weather

6/16/45 – Marrakech, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 5 hours,

6/17/45 – Azores, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 7 hours 20 minutes, Landed at Langen Field

6/22/45 – Newfoundland, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 9 hours 25 minutes, Landed at Gandor Field.

6/23/45 – Bradley Field, B24 (J) # 398 ( Lady Katherine ) 7 hours 25 minutes, Landed at Bradley Field Conneticut.

Note : Back in the States !! Landed at Bradley Field then went to Camp Miles Standish Ma.
From there onto Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
Furlough in Santa Ana California.

Robert S. Jackman Flew a total of 323 hours and 40 minutes of combat Hours in 31 Sorties , 49 Missions, All missions were with the 376th Bomb Group 514th Squadron, Except for the last 2 which were flown  with the 454th Bomb Group